Facials: What Are They, and What Do They Really Do?

Lie back and relax as a skin specialist cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates your skin.

If you’ve never gotten a facial, you might not totally understand the appeal. Why would you need someone else to wash your face for you? But facials are so much more than that — and in addition to feeling great, they have huge benefits for your skin.

Benefits of getting facials

Even people who have clear skin can benefit from facials — especially because clear skin doesn’t always equate to healthy skin. Facials can help hydrate, plump and protect your skin for the long haul.

Doing these treatments allows your skin to be continuously exfoliated, which helps bring forth new skin. This helps to:

• Shrink the size of your pores
• Lessen your skin’s oil production.
• Reduce hyperpigmentation (dark spots).
• Help balance your skin’s pH.

Skin care treatments also help increase blood circulation. Good blood circulation in the skin helps to kill bacteria and promote cell regrowth, which is very important for collagen production.

Collagen is a type of protein that gives your skin structure, strength and elasticity. As you age, though, your skin naturally begins to produce less collagen, which can lead to wrinkles, sagging and other signs of aging.

Types of facials :

If you’ve ever looked at a menu of spa services and felt overwhelmed by all the different types of treatments they offer, you already know that there are different kinds of facials and all kinds of add-ons to choose from. How are you supposed to know what’s what?

1 - Standard facial

Your standard facial is anything but basic! They typically include:

• Cleansing to remove makeup, dirt and other impurities.
• Exfoliation to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
• Moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and supple.
• Led light.

They may also involve:

• Facial steaming to open your pores and soften your skin.
• Extraction of blackheads or whiteheads.
• Serums and other treatments specifically chosen for your skin.

2 - Chemical peels

Chemical peels use a chemical solution to remove layers of skin and encourage cell renewal.

There are different types of peels, all designed to do different things for your skin. Which kind you get will depend on your specific needs and your provider’s recommendations.

Some of the facial acids most often used in chemical peels are:

• Glycolic acid, a deep-penetrating alpha-hydroxy acid that helps exfoliate and boost collagen production.
• Lactic acid, which helps smooth out skin texture and is a good choice for sensitive skin
• Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that unclogs pores by removing dead skin.

3 - LED light therapy

Like mood lighting for your face, LED light therapy treats various skin concerns like acne and fine lines. Different colors of light penetrate your skin at different depths and have different uses:

• Red light can reduce inflammation and combat signs of aging.
• Yellow light can reduce hyperpigmentation.
• Blue light kills bacteria and speeds up acne healing.

Who is microdermabrasion for?

Microdermabrasion is considered a safe procedure for most skin types and colors. People might choose to get the procedure if they have the following skin concerns:

• fine lines and wrinkles
• hyperpigmentation, age spots and brown spots
• enlarged pores and blackheads
• acne and acne scars
• stretch marks
• dull-looking skin complexion
• uneven skin tone and texture
• melasma
• sun damage

Preparing for microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure. There’s very little you need to do to prepare for it.

It a good idea to discuss your skin concerns with a skin care professional to find out if microdermabrasion is the right fit for you. Discuss any past cosmetic procedures and surgeries, as well as allergies and medical conditions.

You may be told to avoid sun exposure, tanning creams, and waxing for about a week before treatment. You may also be advised to stop using exfoliating creams and masks approximately 3 days prior to treatment.

Remove any makeup and cleanse your face before the procedure begins.

Side effects of microdermabrasion

Common side effects of microdermabrasion include mild tenderness, swelling, and redness. These generally go away within a few hours after treatment.

You might be advised to use a moisturizer to minimize dry and flaky skin. Minor bruising may also occur. This is mostly caused by the suction process during the treatment.

What to expect after microdermabrasion

There is little to no downtime after microdermabrasion. You should be able to resume your daily activities immediately.

Keep your skin hydrated and use gentle skin care products. Avoid using topical acne medications for at least one day after treatment. It’s extremely important to protect your skin with sunscreen. Your skin can be more sensitive to the sun in the few weeks after the treatment.

You can expect to see noticeable results immediately after the procedure. The number of microdermabrasion sessions needed will depend on the severity of your skin concerns as well as your expectations.

Your provider will likely design a plan for the initial number of sessions, as well as periodic maintenance.

How often should you get a facial?

The frequency of your facials depends on what type of skin issues you’re dealing with. Our Facial Specialist says every four to six weeks is ideal because it aligns with your skin’s natural cycle — about 30 days.